Hydrangea plant named ‘Bokodapi’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Hydrangea arborescens  plant named ‘Bokodapi’ that is characterized by its healthy and moderately vigorous growing habit, its leaves that are gray-white in color on the lower surface, its sterile flower buds that are dark pink in color, its sterile flower sepals that are grey-pink in color on the upper surface, and its sterile flower sepals that are light rose-purple in color on the lower surface.

Botanical classification: Hydrangea arborescens.

Varietal denomination: ‘Bokodapi’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to a European plant breeders' rightsapplication filed on Jul. 27, 2021, application No. 2021/1957. TheInformation for the plant breeder's Rights application was receiveddirectly from the Inventor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHydrangea arborescens and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivarname, ‘Bokodapi’. ‘Bokodapi’ represents a new smooth Hydrangea, aperennial shrub grown for landscape use.

‘Bokodapi’ was derived from an ongoing controlled breeding programdirected by the Inventor in Boskoop, the Netherlands. The goal of thebreeding program was to develop new cultivars of Hydrangea arborescenswith unique characteristics. ‘Bokodapi’ arose in July of 2010 from openpollination of an unpatented and unnamed proprietary plant of Hydrangeaarborescens from the Inventor's breeding program as the female parent.The male parent is unknown. ‘Bokodapi’ was selected as a single uniqueplant from amongst the resulting seedlings in July of 2020.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished bysoftwood stem cuttings by one of the Inventors in July of 2016 inBoskoop, The Netherlands. Asexual propagation by stem cuttings hasdetermined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable andare reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘Bokodapi’ as a unique cultivar of Hydrangea arborescens.

-   -   1. ‘Bokodapi’ exhibits a healthy and moderately vigorous growing        habit.    -   2. ‘Bokodapi’ exhibits leaves that are gray-white in color on        the lower surface.    -   3. ‘Bokodapi’ exhibits sterile flower buds that are dark pink in        color.    -   4. ‘Bokodapi’ exhibits sterile flower sepals that are grey-pink        in color on the upper surface.    -   5. ‘Bokodapi’ exhibits sterile flower sepals that are light        rose-purple in color on the lower surface.

The female parent plant of ‘Bokodapi’ differs from ‘Bokodapi’ in havinginflorescences that are spherical in shape, weaker stems, and sterileflower sepals that are pale lilac-purple in color. ‘Bokodapi’ can bemost closely compared to Hydrangea arborescens cultivars ‘NCHA2’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 28,316) and ‘NCHA3’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,317). ‘NCHA2’and ‘NCHA3’ are both similar to ‘Bokodapi’ in plant habit andinflorescence shape and color. ‘NCHA2’ differs from ‘Bokodapi’ in havingleaves that are light green in color on the lower surface, sterileflower sepals that are slightly larger in size and more purple rose incolor, sterile flower buds that are darker pink in color, and sterileflower sepals that are dark rose red in color on the lower surface.‘NCHA3’ differs from ‘Bokodapi’ in having leaves that are light green incolor on the lower surface and sterile flower buds that are darker pinkin color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance anddistinct characteristics of the new Hydrangea. The photographs weretaken of a plant 4 years in age as field grown outdoors in a trial plotin Boskoop, The Netherlands.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a view of the plant habit of‘Bokodapi’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the inflorescencesof ‘Bokodapi’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the upper and lowersurface of the leaves of ‘Bokodapi’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with thephotographic and printing technology utilized and the color values citedin the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors ofthe new Hydrangea.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of plants 4 years in age asfield grown outdoors in in a trial plot in Boskoop, The Netherlands. Thephenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental,climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under allpossible environmental conditions. The color determination is inaccordance with The 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal HorticulturalSociety, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinarydictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—6 weeks from mid-July into late summer in            The Netherlands.        -   Plant type.—Perennial shrub with mophead-like flowerheads.        -   Plant habit.—Upright, compact, broadly spreading, and            globular.        -   Height and spread.—Average of 92 cm in height, 1.25 m in            width.        -   Hardiness.—U.S.D.A. Zones 5 to 9.        -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility and resistance to            diseases or pests has been observed.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Time required for root development.—About 12 months to            produce a small finished plant from a cutting.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate.-   Stem description:    -   -   Stem shape.—Rounded.        -   Stem strength.—Strong.        -   Stem aspect.—Upright to spreading, an average angle of 55°            to horizontal.        -   Stem color.—Young; 146B, mature; a blend of 194B to 194C,            and 195B to 195C, occasionally tinged 186C, older bark;            N199C.        -   Stem size.—An average of 66.9 cm (excluding the            inflorescence) in length and 7 mm in diameter.        -   Stem surface.—Glabrous.        -   Branching.—Freely branched; an average of 25 lateral            branches per plant.        -   Internode length.—An average of 6.6 cm.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Broadly ovate, flattened to very slightly            carinate.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite, occasionally in whorls of 3.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf number.—An average of 10 per lateral branch.        -   Leaf base.—Truncate to shallow cordate.        -   Leaf apex.—Apiculate.        -   Leaf margins.—Dentate to serrate.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, upper surface color 197B, lower            surface color a blend of 152B and 199B.        -   Leaf size.—An average of 14.4 cm in length, 10.1 cm in            width.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf surface.—Upper surface; smooth and glabrous, main vein            moderately pubescent with very short adpressed hairs, 0.3 mm            in length, 156A in color, lower surface; densely covered            with woolly pubescent hairs 0.3 mm in length and 191C to            191D in color.        -   Leaf color.—Young upper surface; 137B and 146A, young lower            surface; 191C, mature upper surface; 146A, mature lower            surface; 191B.        -   Petioles.—An average of 5 cm in length and 3 mm in diameter,            color; upper surface 166A and 183A, margins 187A, lower            surface 152A, tinged 183C, surfaces; upper and lower            slightly glossy and moderately covered with short hairs, 0.3            mm in length, and 156A in color.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Round, slightly flattened, mophead,            compound corymb of rotate-shaped sterile flowers.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Sterile and fertile flowers;            an average of 6 weeks, sterile flowers persistent, fertile            flowers; an average of 5 days, self-cleaning.        -   Inflorescence number.—One per lateral stem.        -   Inflorescence size.—An average of 14.5 cm in height and 20.7            cm in diameter.        -   Flower number.—An average of 2,750 sterile flowers and 850            fertile flowers per inflorescence.        -   Flower fragrance.—Faint, sweet and pleasant.        -   Flower aspect.—Sterile flowers; upright, outwards and            drooping, fertile flowers; upright.        -   Flower size.—Sterile flowers; an average of 1.4 cm in            diameter and 4.5 mm in depth, fertile flowers; 4 mm in            diameter and depth.        -   Flower shape.—Sterile flowers; rotate, fertile flowers;            rotate, petals drop when mature.        -   Flower buds.—Sterile flowers; 9 mm in length, 3 mm in            diameter, cup-shaped, color; 185C and 185D, fertile flowers;            2 mm in diameter, 1.5 mm in depth, broadly obovate in shape,            color; 186B with calyx 150B.        -   Peduncles.—An average of 10.5 cm in length and 3 mm in            diameter, color is 197B, slightly tinged with 180B,            moderately strong, main peduncle held in a vertical angle,            lateral peduncles held in an average angle of 70° to main            peduncle, surface is moderately pubescent with very short            hairs an average of 0.3 mm in length, 156C in color.        -   Pedicels.—Sterile flowers; An average of 1 cm in length and            0.75 mm in diameter, held in an average angle of 30° to main            peduncle, moderately strong, color; N155B and 157D, surface            is dull and moderately covered with short, thin, adpressed            hairs 0.4 mm in length and too small to measure color,            fertile flowers; an average of 4 mm in length and 0.75 mm in            diameter, held in an average angle of 5° to main peduncle,            moderately strong, color; a blend of N155B and 157D, dull            surface.        -   Petals.—Sterile flowers; 4, rotate, ovate to strongly            concave, acute apex, cuneate base, entire margins, 1.25 mm            in length, 0.75 mm in width, both surfaces are smooth,            glabrous, slightly glossy, color: when opening upper            surface; N155B, top 186D, when opening lower surface; 186A,            base 186D, when fully open upper and lower surface; petals            dropped at maturity, fertile flowers; 5, rotate, ovate to            strongly concave, acute apex, cuneate base, entire margins,            1.25 mm in length, 0.75 mm in width, both surfaces are            smooth, glabrous, slightly glossy, color: when opening upper            surface; N155B, top 186D, when opening lower surface; 186A,            base 186D, when fully open upper and lower surface; petals            dropped at maturity.        -   Sepals.—Sterile flowers; 4, occasionally 3, rotate, obovate            to elliptic in shape, apex is obtuse to broadly bluntly            acute, cuneate base, entire margins, 8.5 mm in length, 6.5            mm in width, both surfaces glabrous and matte, color: when            opening upper surface; 185C, center 186D, when opening lower            surface; 186B, occasionally tinged 54A, when fully open            upper surface; N155C, margins 185C, fading to 158B to 158C,            slightly tinged 186D, when fully open lower surface; 186B,            fading to 186D, fertile flowers; 5, rotate, deltoid in            shape, apex is broadly acuminate, broadly cuneate base,            entire margins, 0.6 mm in length, 0.5 mm in width, both            surfaces glabrous and matte, color: when opening and fully            open upper surface; 150C, when opening and fully open lower            surface; 185C, tinged 150C.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Gynoecium.—Sterile flowers; none observed, fertile flowers;            pistils; 2, 1.25 mm in length, stigma; club-shaped, 155D in            color, style; 0.5 mm in length, 155C to 155D in color,            ovary; 150D in color.        -   Androecium.—Sterile flowers; stamens; 8, filaments; 1 mm in            length, NN155B in color, anthers; oblong in shape, 0.5 mm in            length, 155A in color, pollen; low, 155D in color, fertile            flowers; stamens; 10, filaments; 3 mm in length, NN155B in            color, anthers; oblong in shape, 0.5 mm in length, 155A in            color, pollen; low, 155D in color.        -   Fruit and seed.—No seeds or fruit observed to date.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named‘Bokodapi’ substantially as herein illustrated and described.